Dear Friends:
Today we celebrate Palm Sunday. Our reading today is from the Gospel of Mark 14:1-15:47. It’s a very long Gospel and it covers the last week of Jesus’ life. It’s a sad story of betrayal, false accusations and total disregard for human life. People have been known to cry during the telling of this horrific story. We are saddened that anyone, much less the Son of God, should be treated like this. Except for his mother and the young apostle John, Jesus is on his own. Yes, he does meet some folks along the way who offer him some kindness. But for the most part, he faces torture and death by himself.
Crucifixion is one of the most horrific deaths there is. You actually die from asphyxiation. The person who is crucified has to push himself up over and over in order to catch his breath. Most people who are crucified will also be scourged, and Jesus was fitted with a crown of thorns. The blood loss is tremendous not to mention being weakened by having no sleep, no food and very little to drink.
The most moving part of this whole story is to hear Jesus’ words when he is close to death: “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” It seems for Jesus, at least, that even his father in heaven has abandoned him. We know of course that this is not the case because in just three days Jesus will rise from the dead to be Savior to all humankind!
Jesus gave everything he had so that we may live forever. The question to ask today is: how much have we given up to be with our Father, Son and Holy Spirit in heaven? Are we really living a life that puts others before ourselves? Let us lookup to Jesus on the cross and resolve to be better neighbors to all we meet!
Peace and All Good!
Deacon Jim
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